Jinhyuk Lee Apologizes for 'Celebrity Syndrome' Controversy: "Sorry for Inappropriate Behavior"

Singer Lee Jin-hyuk. Photo by Lee Jin-hyuk Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Singer Lee Jin-hyuk apologized for his remarks related to 'celebrity syndrome.'

On the 13th, Lee Jin-hyuk posted a handwritten apology on his Instagram, stating, "I would like to apologize for causing concern due to my inadequate words and actions."

He said, "I sincerely reflect on my behavior shown during the recent live broadcast. I want to apologize to the drama staff and viewers who felt uncomfortable watching my live broadcast."

He also expressed his apology to Kim Seul-gi. Lee Jin-hyuk said, "I sincerely apologize to Kim Seul-gi, who was hurt by my inconsiderate words and actions, as well as to the drama staff and fans."

He added, "I will deeply take to heart the words from fans and strive to become a Lee Jin-hyuk who will never disappoint you again in my future activities. Once again, I am sorry."

Furthermore, he said, "I thank directors Oh Hyun-jong and Lee Soo-hyun for leading me, a novice who is lacking and stammering, with laughter and positive energy. I sincerely thank the many senior actors who cared for me as the youngest and gave me generous advice," and shared his thoughts on the drama’s conclusion, saying, "No matter where I go in the future, I will never forget all the teachings from the directors and seniors."

Apology statement from singer Lee Jin-hyuk regarding his words and actions related to 'celebrity syndrome' posted on his Instagram on the 13th. Photo by Lee Jin-hyuk Instagram capture.

Earlier, actors Moon Ga-young and Kim Seul-gi held a live broadcast to promote the MBC drama 'The Law of Memory of That Man.' Before the broadcast ended, Lee Jin-hyuk made a surprise appearance in the comments, and Kim Seul-gi, immersed in the concept of being a couple in the drama, said, "Honey, see you later."

However, some fans expressed discomfort and left malicious comments toward Kim Seul-gi. Regarding this, Lee Jin-hyuk said in a live broadcast on the 8th, "Kim Seul-gi also apologized to me. She said she didn’t realize it would come out unconsciously," adding, "She was filming and said she was really sorry. I decided to let it go."

During this, a fan commented, "If a Superstar cares about such things, it’s tiring," and Lee Jin-hyuk read the comment aloud, showing acknowledgment. This escalated conflicts between Lee Jin-hyuk’s and Kim Seul-gi’s fans and expanded into a controversy over 'celebrity syndrome.'

Below is the full apology statement from Lee Jin-hyuk’s Instagram.

Hello, this is Lee Jin-hyuk.

‘The Law of Memory of That Man’ has ended with the great love of viewers.

Before expressing my gratitude, I want to apologize for causing concern due to my inadequate words and actions.

I sincerely reflect on my behavior shown during the recent live broadcast. I want to apologize to the drama staff and viewers who felt uncomfortable watching my live broadcast. I sincerely apologize to senior Kim Seul-gi, who was hurt by my inconsiderate words and actions, as well as to the drama staff and fans. I will deeply take to heart the words from you all and strive to become a Lee Jin-hyuk who will never disappoint you again in my future activities. Once again, I apologize. I am sorry.

My debut work, ‘The Law of Memory of That Man,’ ended today. The filming, which I wished would never end, has come to a close, and now that the drama I loved has ended, I am left with a bittersweet feeling.

I thank directors Oh Hyun-jong and Lee Soo-hyun for leading me, a novice who is lacking and stammering, with laughter and positive energy. I also sincerely thank the many senior actors who cared for me as the youngest and gave me generous advice. No matter where I go in the future, I will never forget all the teachings from the directors and seniors.

And I want to thank the viewers who loved the character Jo Il-kwon. As this was the first character that approached me as an actor named Lee Jin-hyuk, I had a strong desire to do well, and I acted hoping that feeling would reach the viewers.

I will continue to work hard to show you a good side in the future. Thank you for watching The Law of Memory of That Man.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.